About Texas Sex Offender Registration

By
The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC
|August 10, 2016

In Texas, when individuals commit certain sexually-motivated crimes, they
will be required by law to register as a
sex offender under Chapter 62 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, commonly
referred to as the Texas “Sex Offender Registration Program.”

The Texas Sex Offender Registration Program is the state’s sex offender
registration and public notification law, which is meant to notify and
protect the public about convicted sex offenders.

Under this law, both adult and juvenile sex offenders are required to register
with the law enforcement agency in the city where they live. If the offender
does not live in a city, he or she must register with the law enforcement
agency in the county where they live.

Reporting Requirements are Strictly Enforced

The sex offender must provide their personal information to their local
law enforcement agency, including their name and address, the offense
they were convicted of, and a color photograph of themselves.

The registered sex offender is required to periodically report back to
their local law enforcement agency to ensure that all information is accurate
and up-to-date. If there are any changes in their employment or residential
address, the offender is required to report those changes when they occur.

The sex offender will be informed about their reporting requirements. If
the offender fails to comply with
any of their reporting requirements, they will be subject to felony prosecution.
For example, failing to update their new address can lead to felony charges
and imprisonment.

Public Notification of Registered Sex Offenders

Once someone is registered as a sex offender, the public will be notified.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS) is in charge of maintaining
a statewide sex offender database, which contains all the information
regarding registered sex offenders in Texas.

According to Texas’ state law, most of the information contained
in the TXDPS database is available to the public. How does the public
obtain this information? All they have to do is go to the
TXDPS website.

In addition to the TXDPS sex offender database, each law enforcement agency
in the state has their own sex offender registry, which maintains the
registration information on each of the offenders registered with the
specific law enforcement agency.

Facts about sex offender registration:

Most sex offender registration information is available to the public,
on the local and state levels.

Some local law enforcement agencies maintain local websites so the public
can search for sex offenders in their communities.

State law allows law enforcement to publish information about sex offenders
in local newspapers and periodicals.

Note: If a high-risk sex offender, or a sexually-violent predator moves
into a community, the authorities will make sure that each resident is
aware of it. What will happen is TXDPS will send a post card to each resident
and business containing the sexual predator’s information –
this way the community can be “on guard.”

Sexually violent offenses include but are not limited to: continuous sexual
abuse of a child, indecency with a child, sexual assault or aggravated
sexual assault, sexual performance by a child, and aggravated kidnapping.

If you are facing criminal charges for a sexually-motivated crime,
contact our Plano
criminal defense firm to protect your rights and your future!

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.